Container blank

ABSTRACT

A blank of sheet material for a container is provided with a pattern of fold lines ( 22, 18, 16 ), the pattern being selected such that a container having any one of a plurality of shapes, sizes and/or configuration can be erected from the blank.

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a blank, method and kit for the erection of containers.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION

The applicant is aware that containers are normally erected from blanks provided with a shape, pattern of fold lines and/or slits configured to provide a container of a specific shape, size and configuration. A specific die is prepared for the manufacture of a specific container.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a blank of sheet material for a container, the blank being provided with a pattern of fold lines, the pattern being selected such that a container having any one of a plurality of shapes, sizes and/or configuration can be erected from the blank.

The pattern of fold lines may be a cross-hatched grid or matrix in which at least some of the fold lines of the grid or matrix do not intersect i.e. the fold lines are in the form of a broken line.

Thus, at the locations where the fold lines would have intersected, but don't, the fold lines radiate outwards from said location.

Fold lines will be understood to mean an indicated line, embossed line, line of perforations, scores, creases, or any line of weakness such as a pre-folded line, and the like.

The pattern may be selected such that a container having any one of a plurality of shapes, sizes and/or configuration can be erected from the blank. The shape and/or size of the erected container is dependent on the dimensions of the blank sheet of material.

The pattern may include a first plurality of parallel spaced fold lines and a second plurality of parallel spaced fold lines transverse to the first plurality of fold lines. One or more of the second plurality of parallel spaced fold lines may intersect the first plurality of parallel spaced fold lines.

The first and second plurality of parallel spaced fold lines may define rows and columns of rectangular shapes, on the surface of the blank, each rectangular shape being separated from adjacent shapes by the fold lines.

Each rectangular shape defined by the first and second pluralities of fold lines may have four equal sides i.e. be a square.

The pattern may further include a third plurality of parallel spaced fold lines at an angle to the first and second pluralities of fold lines.

The pattern may further include a fourth plurality of parallel spaced fold lines at an angle to the first and second pluralities of fold lines and transverse to the third plurality of fold lines. One or more of the fourth plurality of fold lines may intersect one or more of the third plurality of fold lines.

The blank may include instructions thereon to a person for folding, connecting and/or cutting the blank in order to erect a container of the shape size and/or configuration as desired by the person.

The instructions may be printed on the blank.

The blank may be provided with decorative printed or embossed markings. The markings may be foil laminated print markings.

The third and fourth pluralities of fold lines may be diagonal with respect to the rectangular shapes defined by the first and second plurality of parallel spaced fold lines.

Each rectangular shape defined by the third and fourth pluralities of fold lines may have four equal sides i.e. be a square.

The sheet material may be any suitable stiff paper, plastic coated paper, plastic, paper board, carton paper, corrugated cardboard, plastic laminated paper, twin walled extruded plastic sheeting, and the like material.

According to a further aspect of the invention, there is provided a connecting device, the device having:

-   -   an adhesive on a surface of one of one of its sides; and     -   a pattern of fold lines configured such that the connecting         device can be cut and/or folded to adhesively connect panels of         a container at a location where said panels abut, neighbour,         overlap and/or are coterminous along edges.

The connecting device may be foldable. The connecting device may be foldable by virtue of being made from a flexible material or a rigid material which is foldable by virtue of the fold lines provided thereon.

The connecting device may adhesively connect said panels to form at least a portion of the container defined by the panels.

In one embodiment, the connecting device is made from 100 micron polypropylene, matt white material, having a 45 gram paper foil self adhesive layer.

The connecting device may be generally square shaped and the pattern of fold lines may include:

-   -   a first pair of parallel spaced fold lines extending from one         edge of the device to the other opposed edge proximate a line,         which divide the device in two oblong shaped halves; and     -   a fold line, transverse to, generally along a line, which divide         the device in two oblong shaped halves, and the fold line         extending from one of the first pair of parallel lines to the         nearest edge.

The pattern of fold lines may further include a second pair of parallel spaced fold lines extending transversely from the other of the first pair of fold lines to the nearest edge proximate a line, which divide the device in two oblong shaped halves.

The pattern of fold lines may further include one or more diagonal fold lines.

It will be appreciated that the connecting device may also function as a reinforcing means for reinforcing panels of the erected container

According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided an elongate label device of a flexible sheet material, the device having an adhesive on the surface of one of the sides, the device being symmetrical along a fold line provided across its width such that the adhesive surface can be folded in two matching halves which adhere to each other.

The label device may be provided with further matching pairs of fold lines across its width proximate opposed ends of the device.

The label device may further be provided with a matching pair of holes or markings, which indicate the position where matching holes can be made by a person. A hole or marking may be proximate each opposed end of the label device.

According to a further aspect there is provided a kit for erecting a container which includes a blank for a container, connecting device and/or an elongate label device as described above.

The kit may include cutting tools and/or decorative articles to be appended to the erected container.

According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of manufacturing containers which include the step of providing a blank for a container with a pattern of fold lines, the pattern being selected such that a container having any one of a plurality of shapes, sizes and/or configuration can be erected from the blank.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The invention is now described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 shows a blank of sheet material for a container, in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 2 shows a blank of sheet material for a container and a container erected from the blank, in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 3 shows a blank of sheet material for a container and a container erected from the blank, in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 4 shows a variety of three containers erected from a blank of sheet material for a container, in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 5 shows a connecting device, in accordance with the invention;

FIGS. 6 to 13 shows some uses of the connecting device, in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 14 shows a portion of a container and a label device and some of its uses, in accordance with the invention; and

FIG. 15 a further use of the connecting device in accordance with the invention to mount a ribbon bow.

Referring now to FIGS. 1 to 4, a blank of sheet of stiff paper material for a container, in accordance with the invention, is generally indicated by reference numeral 10. The blank 10 of sheet material for a container is provided with a pattern 12 of printed fold lines. The pattern 12 is selected such that a container 14 having any one of a plurality of shapes, sizes and/or configuration can be erected from the blank, such as the examples shown in FIGS. 2 to 4.

The pattern 12 includes a first plurality of parallel spaced fold lines 16 and a second plurality of parallel spaced fold lines 18 perpendicular to and which intersect the first plurality of fold lines 16. The pattern 12 further includes a third plurality of parallel spaced fold lines 20 and a fourth plurality of parallel spaced fold lines 22, both at an angle to the first and second pluralities of fold lines 16 and 18. The fourth plurality of parallel spaced fold lines 22 is perpendicular to the third plurality of fold lines 20 and intersects the third plurality of fold lines 20.

FIG. 2 shows a container 14.1 having a triangular cross section erected from a blank 10, which has been cut and folded along the darkened lines 23.

FIG. 3 shows a container 14.2 having a lid 25 erected from a blank 10, which has been cut and folded along the darkened lines 23.

Referring now to FIGS. 4 to 13, a connecting device of a flexible sheet material, in accordance with the invention, is indicated by reference numeral 24. The connecting device 24 has an adhesive on the surface of one of the sides and a pattern of fold lines 26. As shown in FIGS. 6 to 13, the pattern of fold lines 26 are configured such that the connecting device 24 can be cut and/or folded (indicated by arrows marked 28) to adhesively connect panels 30 of a container 14 at a corner (as shown in FIGS. 11 and 13) defined by the panels 30, to form a hinged lid (as shown in FIG. 12) defined by the panels 30, and connect panels 30 which abut, neighbour, overlap and/or is coterminous along edges (as shown in FIGS. 6 to 10).

The connecting device 24 is generally square shaped and the pattern of printed fold lines 26 includes a first pair 26.1 of parallel spaced fold lines extending from one edge of the device 24 to the other opposed edge along a line, which divide the device 10 in two oblong shaped halves and a fold line 26.2, perpendicular to, along a line, which divide the device 24 in two oblong shaped halves. The fold line 26.2 extends from one of the first pair of parallel lines 26.1 to the nearest edge. The pattern of fold lines 26 further includes a second pair 26.3 of parallel spaced fold lines extending perpendicular from the other of the first pair of fold lines 26.1 to the nearest edge proximate a line, which divide the device 24 in two oblong shaped halves. The pattern of fold lines 26 further includes a diagonal fold line 26.4.

FIG. 14 shows an elongate label device 32 of a flexible sheet material, in accordance with the invention. The device 32 has an adhesive on the surface of one of the sides. The device 32 is symmetrical along a fold line 34 provided across its width such that the adhesive surface can be folded in two matching halves, which adhere to each other. The label device 32 is also provided with further matching pairs of fold lines 36 across its width proximate opposed ends of the device 32. Still further, the label device 32 is provided with a matching pair of markings 38, indicating the position where matching holes 40 can be made by a person. A marking 38 is proximate each opposed end of the label device 32. The versatility and uses of the device 32 are clearly indicated by FIG. 14.

FIG. 15 shows further, decorative and tagging, uses of the connecting device 24 and the label device 32, respectively. 

1. A blank of sheet material, for forming a container having any one of a plurality of shapes, sizes and/or configurations, provided with a pattern of fold lines, the pattern including: a first plurality of parallel spaced fold lines and a second plurality of parallel spaced fold lines transverse to the first plurality of fold lines characterised in that the fold lines are in the form of broken lines and at the locations where the fold lines would have intersected the fold lines of the first plurality and the fold lines of the second plurality are interrupted and therefore do not intersect each other but radiate outwards from said location.
 2. A blank as claimed in claim 1, in which the first and second plurality of parallel spaced fold lines define rows and columns of rectangular shapes, on the surface of the blank, each rectangular shape being separated from adjacent shapes by the fold lines.
 3. A blank as claimed in claim 3 or claim 4, in which the pattern includes a third plurality of parallel spaced fold lines at an angle to the first and second pluralities of fold lines.
 4. A blank as claimed in claim 3, in which the pattern includes a fourth plurality of parallel spaced fold lines at an angle to the first and second pluralities of fold lines, transverse to the third plurality of fold lines.
 5. A blank as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4, which include instructions thereon to a person for folding, connecting and/or cuffing the blank in order to erect a container of the shape, size and/or configuration as desired by the person.
 6. A blank as claimed in claim 5, in which the instructions are printed on the blank.
 7. A blank as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 6, which is provided with decorative print markings, preferably foil laminated print markings.
 8. A blank as claimed in any one of claims 4 to 7, in which the third and/or fourth pluralities of fold lines are diagonal with respect to rectangular shapes defined by the first and second plurality of parallel spaced fold lines.
 9. A blank as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 8, in which the sheet material is suitable stiff paper, plastic coated paper, plastic, paper board, carton paper, corrugated cardboard, plastic laminated paper, twin walled extruded plastic sheeting.
 10. A connecting device for a blank of flexible sheet material as claimed in any one of claim 1 to 9, the device having: an adhesive on a surface of one of one of its sides; and a pattern of fold lines configured such that the connecting device can be cut and/or folded to adhesively connect panels of a container at a location where said panels abut, neighbour, overlap and/or are coterminous along edges.
 11. A connecting device as claimed in claim 10, in which the connecting device is generally square shaped and the pattern of fold lines includes: a first pair of parallel spaced fold lines extending from one edge of the device to the other opposed edge proximate a line, which divide the device in two oblong shaped halves; and a fold line, transverse to, generally along a line, which divide the device in two oblong shaped halves, and the fold line extending from one of the first pair of parallel lines to the nearest edge of the device.
 12. A connecting device as claimed in claim 11, in which the pattern of fold lines further includes a second pair of parallel spaced fold lines extending transversely from the other of the first pair of fold lines to the nearest edge of the device, proximate a line which divide the device in two oblong shaped halves.
 13. A connecting device as claimed in claim 12, in which the pattern of fold lines further includes one or more diagonal fold lines.
 14. A kit for erecting a container, which includes a blank for a container as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 9, a connecting device as claimed in any one of claims 10 to
 14. 15. A kit as claimed in claim 14, which includes a cutting tool, an embossing tool, a ribbon, a wrapping paper for wrapping an item to be placed in the container, an elongate label and/or decorative articles to be appended to the erected container.
 16. A method of manufacturing containers which include the step of providing a blank of sheet material provided with a pattern of fold lines, the pattern including: a first plurality of parallel spaced fold lines and a second plurality of parallel spaced fold lines transverse to the first plurality of fold lines such that a container having any one of a plurality of shapes, sizes and/or configurations is erectable from the blank, characterised in that the fold lines are in the form of broken lines and at the locations where the fold lines would have intersected the fold lines of the first plurality and the fold lines of the second plurality are interrupted and therefore do not intersect each other but radiate outwards from said location.
 17. A blank of sheet material for a container provided with a pattern of fold lines, substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.
 18. A connecting device of a flexible sheet material, substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.
 19. A kit for erecting a container, substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.
 20. A method of manufacturing containers, substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings. 